DOVER — Tobacco products will soon be restricted in portions of Henry Law Park after Youth to Youth addressed the City Council last week.

The Youth to Youth program, made up of more than 70 members in Grades 6-12 in Dover and surrounding communities, requested the City Council to change an ordinance, restricting the use of cigarette smoking in front of the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, by the Rotary Pavilion band shell and in the playground near the indoor pool. The City Council approved the resolution unanimously.

“Smoking can make the area very uninviting for the children and their families,” Brian Eldridge, of Youth to Youth, said. The program contacted the Children's Museum, the Rotary Club and the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, who were all in favor of the ordinance change.

Last summer, Youth to Youth members picked up nearly 1,000 cigarette butts in 30 minutes at Henry Law Park, which led them to ask the City Council for an ordinance change.

The ordinance, under offenses in chapter 131-18, will be changed and the Youth to Youth members will post signs throughout the park this spring.

Youth to Youth coordinator Dana Mitchell said the fundraising for the signs and the design of the signs will be decided upon within the next few meetings.

Mitchell said signs may be wooden to fit the environment of the park, but nothing has been decided.

“There will be just enough signage so the public is informed,” he said, adding that he does not think the police department will ever issue a summons in the park, “because most people will comply.”

“I think what you will see happen is a sign at the playground that says, 'Thank you for not smoking in the playground area,' and signs at the access points to the park,” Mitchell said.